Rights Respecting School

In December 2015, Greenwood Academy were awarded Level 1 of the Rights Respecting School Award, the first Secondary School in North Ayrshire.

The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of a school’s planning, policies, practice and ethos. A rights-respecting school not only teaches about children’s rights but also models rights and respect in all its relationships: between teachers / adults and pupils, between adults and between pupils.

In Greenwood, we have extremely active RRS Ambassadors from S1-S6 who are highly involved in the improvement and decision making process of the school. For young people, knowing that they have the right to be heard in decisions which affect them boosts their self-confidence. Adults are encouraged to work with young people in an inclusive way to ensure their views are heard and valued in decision making which affects them.

RRS Ambassadors are instrumental in raising awareness of current issues and Rights Respecting work throughout the school community. Promoting our school values, they lead assemblies, staff in-service sessions, primary transition workshops, promote our weekly focus as well as encouraging the school community to be responsible citizens working towards the Global Goals for Sustainability, campaigning for change and fundraising to help others.

A rights respecting school helps children develop into achieving their highest potential. It also means that the pupils and staff have a responsibility to make sure that all the rights are followed.

Should anyone wish to join the RRS Steering Groups or get involved with any of the activities, please contact Mrs MacDougall.